Scalia Dissents by Kevin A. Ring - 2004

Brand new, unused, first edition, with dust jacket. Comments and opinons of Justice Scalia, edited by Kevin Ring, with introduction and commentary. This volume is the first of its kind, showcasing the quotable justice's take on many of the most controversial issues of our time. This book contains over a dozen of Justice Scalia's opinions. The editor also provides helpful background on each opinion, as well as a primer of Justice Scalia's judicial philosophy. "Scalia Dissents" is the perfect book for readers who love scintillating prose and penetrating insight, on the most important constitutional issues of our time.

Terrence P. Jeffrey, the Editor of "Human Events," says: "Antonin Scalia is a man of clear, powerful, and frequently witty words. So, too, is Kevin Ring as he conducts readers on an enlightening and entertaining tour of Scalia's most compelling opinions on the United States Supreme Court."

Loren Smith is the Senior Judge of U.S. Court of Federal Claims; of this book, she says: "Justice Scalia's jurisprudence is the clearest articulation of the constitutional duty each judge undertakes, to uphold and defend that sacred document, not their own trendy read on it. We are indeed indebted to Kevin Ring for putting these splendid passages of what the law is (and should be) in easily usable and organized form. This is a very important book."

"Scalia Dissents" is a main selection of the Conservative Book Club.

Here is an excerpt from Kevin Ring's introduction:

"Call it a 'Scalia moment.' You are reading the latest opinion of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and come across a witty line or turn of phrase that makes you laught aloud, an insight or observation that makes you nod your head in agreement, or a caustic barb that makes you wince for the target. Since his appointment in 1986, Scalia has been the Court's premier conservative, intellectual gladiator, and chief wordsmith. More than anyone who has served on the High Court in recent history, Scalia has given life to Aristotle's injunction that 'It is not enough to know what to say--one must know how to say it.'

"His words can be pointed. 'Today's opinion has no foundation in American constitutional law, and barely pretends to,' he charged in one case.

"Scalia's opinions can also be witty and humorous. Explaining why he did not think the Court should try to create a standard for defining 'literary or artistic value' in an obscenity case, Scalia said '. . . in my view it is quite impossible to come to an objective assessment of (at least) literary or artistic value, there being many accomplished people who found literature in Dada and art in the replication of a soup can.'

". . . Scalia's way with words is what makes this book possible. His opinions--though full of legal arguments and analyses only a lawyer could love--are highly readable. His entertaining writing style can make even the most mundane areas of the law interesting. It is no small feat.

"A note about labels: After describing Scalia as the Court's 'premier conservative,' I spend some time arguing and include some cases to demonstrate that he is not always in step with political conservatives. The reason for the apparent conflict is that there is a difference between a 'judicial conservative' and a 'political conservative.' By political conservative, I refer to an elected official or political activist who supports a set of policies, including small government, lower taxes, and traditional social values. By judicial conservative, I mean a judge who does not advance any political or policy preferences, but whose approach to constitutional and statutory interpretation involves fidelity to the text of the Constitution and adherence to the original understanding of that document or to the intent of its drafters. A judicial conservative's approach will result in many politically conservative outcomes, but it should not and will not always be the case. "Finally, it should be noted that this book is not a personal biography of Justice Scalia. Though facts about his background are mentioned when relevant, I would like to merely share Scalia's most compelling opinions and give readers, for the benefit of context, an overview of his judicial philosophy.

"Justice Scalia's way with words, his reasoning, and his vision--all are showcased in the chapters that follow. Experience some of the most noteworthy, colorful, and entertaining opinions ever written by a United States Supreme Court Justice. And, finally, enjoy some classic 'Scalia moments.'"